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How much life cover do you actually need?
Most South Africans are guessing — and most are underinsured. Answer five questions and see your real number in about thirty seconds.
Your details
Nothing is stored while you calculate. Adjust any number to see it update.
Total yearly income before tax.
Used to work out how many earning years to protect.
We budget about R 400 000 per child for raising & education.
What would need to be settled if you passed away.
Include employer group cover if you have it.
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Your result appears here
Enter at least your income and age on the left to see how much life cover you should have.
How this calculator works
The “ten times your salary” rule is a shortcut that ignores your debts and your children. This calculator builds your number from four parts instead:
Income to replace
Roughly 75% of your income for every year until you would have retired at 65 — discounted, because a lump sum is invested rather than spent at once.
Debts to settle
Your bond, car finance and loans. If these are not settled, they are paid out of your estate before anything reaches your family.
Children's provision
Roughly R400,000 per child towards raising and educating them through to tertiary level.
Cover you already have
Existing policies and employer group cover are subtracted, because that portion of the need is already met.
The result is an estimate designed to be realistic rather than precise. It does not account for tax, estate duty, your spouse's income or existing investments — which is exactly what a free consultation with an accredited adviser covers.
Common questions
How much life cover do I need in South Africa?+
A common rule of thumb is 10 to 15 times your annual income, but that ignores your actual situation. A better estimate works out the income your family would need until you would have retired — typically around 75% of what you earn, since your own living costs fall away — then adds every debt that must be settled (bond, car, personal loans) and the cost of raising and educating your children, and subtracts the cover you already have, including group cover through your employer.
Does life cover from my employer count?+
Yes, include it — but treat it as temporary. Group life cover usually ends the day you leave that job, and the payout is often only two to four times your annual salary. It is a useful base, not a full plan, and it is worth knowing exactly what it pays out.
What does life cover actually pay for?+
It pays a lump sum to your beneficiaries when you die. In practice that money settles the bond so your family can stay in the home, clears debts that would otherwise be paid out of your estate, covers immediate costs, and replaces the income your household relied on.
Is life cover expensive in South Africa?+
It is usually cheaper than people expect, and premiums are heavily influenced by your age, health and whether you smoke. Cover bought in your thirties costs meaningfully less than the same cover bought in your fifties, because premiums are priced on your age when the policy starts.
Is this calculator financial advice?+
No. It is a general estimate to give you a realistic starting number. Your actual need depends on your tax position, your estate, existing policies, your spouse's income and other factors. An accredited financial adviser can tailor it properly — and that consultation is free.